Job Discussion Forums

lizziebennet · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 355

Yep, we are travelling. I am with my husband in Jordan and not wearing a scarf or abaya. Yeah! Here it doesn't seem to make any difference.

In Buraidah, the Muttawa has been known to chase us down if we are wearing the niqab that shows our eyes (only once in my case) They want us to cover our eyes too... Some Saudi woman don't cover their eyes so we don't usually take much notice.

The dean of our program has requested that we wear a veil and one teacher even got a warning beause she was wearing just an abaya and a scarf when she got into her husband's car at the university.

Basically I wear a veil when I am not with my husband. When I am with him I just wear a scarf depending on where we are.l No one says a thing to me then, not even the Muttawa. I have not seen a marked difference in service with or without the veil, I always have the scarf on though (I have been te only one in the whole mall without a veil).

The two times I have been to Jeddah I didn't even wear a scarf and I felt I got the same service. No one really blinked an eye...

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

Well it's a good thing all you obedient ladies cover your faces, because when I see a pretty woman's face, I normally just LOSE CONTROL and need to be restrained by muttaween of the right and true path. That's why I'm in the Tragic Kingdom--not for the money. Shocked

Cleopatra · Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 4:36 pm Post subject:

My own personal experience is that you do definately do get better treatment - and are dealt with with a greater level of 'deference' - when you cover your hair. It's a matter of personal preference, of course, but I would feel very 'exposed' without my headscarf in public in Saudi Arabia.

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:04 pm Post subject:

I went two years in the EP without wearing a scarf (most of the time) and I never noticed getting poorer service because of it....but then, I can charm the birds out of the trees with just my smile! Wink

With Malice Toward None · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 250

meyanga · Joined: 02 Mar 2008 Posts: 103 Location: Malaysia

In Jeddah it makes absolutely no difference. I have never worn a scarf and nor have any of my female British colleagues.

You can often see young women and teenagers in the malls without scarves - don't know if they are Saudi or not (possibly Lebanese?) but they have their long flowing locks on full display and no-one seems to mind.

In my 1 1/2 years in Jeddah, I have yet to meet any muttawa - is it really so different here compared to the rest of KSA?

Meyanga
Very Happy

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 10:37 am Post subject:

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

I had women who were completely covered moved into line ahead of me. I have been shoved aside by men so "their women" (covered) could board the airplane first.

It is rude, inconsiderate,and racist. I always was covered from neck to toe. I am over 60. I don't think anything that happened outside of my university p*%#ed me off more than the bad treatment I received in the Eastern Province by clerks and others because I dared to show my face.

In Oman, by the way, I have never noticed any difference in how I am treated. Some cover in hijab and abaya, some in brightly coloured Dofar dresses and sheilas, and some, including Omani women, show their heads and faces and wear modest western clothes. Tolerance. What a wonderful thing!

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:44 pm Post subject:

trapezius · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:22 pm Post subject:

I believe it has nothing to do with abaya/hijab or lack of it.

Many Saudis over the age of 40-50 (and some younger ones as well, especially the poorer, uneducated ones) have no concept of queuing, even though breaking a queue goes against their religion.

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

I have to admit, even in "liberal" Cairo, I have only seen one local without any head covering (I assume she was local as she was driving). I can't imagine a Saudi woman in public without a scarf!

trapezius · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 12:54 am Post subject:

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Picking up the subtle, and not so subtle, hints from female dress in the Middle East is the stuff of studies and books. Laughing

But, I was suprised that santi84 saw so few local women in Egypt without hijab. After all, 10-15% of the population is Coptic and they don't cover. Not to mention, the educated upper class urban Muslim women... over 60 year of age... rarely cover. It was definitely generational... it was the young who brought it back. It also depends on the neighborhood.

The hijab is still in the minority at AUC. When I last taught there in '01, not one of my students covered. And the videos and pictures that I have seen of the new campus and activities in the last couple years have shown few who covered. The student body must be at least 60-65% Muslim, I'd guess.

VS
(BTW... when I arrived in Egypt in the mid 80s, less than 30% of urban Muslim women wore hijab... when I left 3 years later, it was 70% and rising. I'm pretty sure that it wasn't my fault...)

Hiawatha · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 62 Location: Oman

Hi All

Thanks for your lively and informative comments.

I live in Jeddah, yet even here I get faster service, and more respect from shop keepers and taxi drivers with the scarf.

The Saudis are the same with or without the scarf........And it is true that most shop keepers and drivers are not Saudi.

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

[quote="veiledsentiments"
But, I was suprised that santi84 saw so few local women in Egypt without hijab. After all, 10-15% of the population is Coptic and they don't cover. Not to mention, the educated upper class urban Muslim women... over 60 year of age... rarely cover. It was definitely generational... it was the young who brought it back. It also depends on the neighborhood.[/quote]

It must have been the luck of the draw. I was around (but not at) the American University!